News Beat
Yoro caught out for goals & Ugarte sloppy on return but Cunha knows what playing for club means
MANCHESTER UNITED’S patched-up side suffered a nightmare before Christmas.
United were undone by two stunning Morgan Rogers strikes as skipper Bruno Fernandes failed to reemerge from the dressing room at half-time.
Matheus Cunha jumped on Matty Cash dwindling on the ball to curl in an equaliser before half-time, before Rogers second screamer of the afternoon.
Already without seven first-team players due to Afcon and injuries, Fernandes limped down the touchline in the second-half.
The Portugal international pulled up in the first-half after a strong challenge from Onana Amadou went unpunished by ref Michael Oliver.
High-flying Villa went two games unbeaten in all competitions and won their 25th out of 26 home games of 2026.
Here’s How SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated the United players from a pumping Villa Park.
Senne Lammens – 6
A superb double save in the seventh minute got Manuel Ugarte out of jail. It would have made Peter Schmeichel proud.
He’ll be happy not to have had any faux-pas with United’s other summer target Emi Martinez back Villa’s XI. Could not have done much about Rogers’ goals.
Leny Yoro – 3
The youngster has endured a difficult month. He practically invited Rogers to turn into acres of space for the opener and stood off the England No10 for 2-1.
Amorim will be praying that either one of Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire sign out of the treatment room soon. Another performance to forget.
Ayden Heaven – 5
The 19-year-old got saved United from two goals inside the opening 10 minutes. He played with real confidence in what might have been his best defensive performance ye
Luke Shaw – 5
The England international was put on corner duty with Bryan Mbeumo on Afcon duty. He shifted across well to read the danger in the first-half.
Received most of Amorim’s instructions from the sidelines given the young centre-back duo next to him.
Diogo Dalot – 5
Continued his good run of form, this time in the right wing-back role. He worked hard and created a few opportunities for his side.
Could have offered more defensively.
Patrick Dorgu – 6
Dorgu was forced in to cover the seven unavailable players for a first start since awful 1-0 defeat to Everton and since Amorim said he feels “anxiety” whenever the wing-back is on the ball.
And the youngster had one of his better performances of the season, setting up Cunha for the equaliser and causing Matty Cash all sorts of trouble as United pushed for a second equaliser.
Manuel Ugarte – 3
Ugarte has never looked like the £50m player United signed from PSG. He was caught out on the ball inside United’s half leading to a flurry of early Villa chances.
Before kick-off United had not won any of the three games Ugarte has started and it is clear to see why. It is a problem having him as such a deep-lying midfielder because he’s not great on the ball.
He was nonetheless forced into the XI with Casemiro suspended and Kobbie Mainoo injured. Jeered by the home crowd for sending a cross into Row Z with minimal pressure but calmed down as the match went on.
Bruno Fernandes – 5
Just when Fernandes’ impeccable injury record was highlighted midweek, the club captain was taken off at half-time for the first time in his United career.
Before that, Fernandes had done a decent job of packing up the space in the midfield to deny Villa any rhythm.
Mason Mount – 6
Played with energy and directness throughout. A bright spark in the United attack once again and was at the heart of most they did well.
But failed to stand up on set-piece duty with Fernandes sitting on the bench in the second-half.
Matheus Cunha – 7
The Brazilian, back in at No10, was on his toes to capitalise on Matty Cash dwelling on the ball to curl in an instant equaliser just before the break.
Cunha knows what being a United player is all about. He was sharp on the turn and brave on the ball without his ideal forward partners Amad and Mbeumo at Afcon. But missed two clear-cut chances in the second-half.
Cut a frustrated figure, looking especially perplexed with a couple of Benjamin Sesko‘s decisions in front of goal. Amorim is going to need him firing on all fronts if United are going to pick up results over the next month.
Benjamin Sesko – 4
The 6ft 3 striker put himself about but lacked the cutting edge in front of goal that United so desperately need.
Maybe if Sesko had been confident and in full flow he could have stuck one away past an outcoming Martinez early on. Always came up a bit short on reading crosses from Mount and Cunha.
SUBS
Lisandro Martinez (for Fernandes, 45) – 6
Slotted in nicely in the back-line after replacing an injured Fernandes at half-time.
Jack Fletcher (for Ugarte, 73) – 5
Was solid enough on his Premier League debut.
Joshua Zirkzee (for Sesko, 73) – 6
Some nice touches when he came on.
Shea Lacey (for Mount) – N/A
Had a pop at Martinez’s goal in the 90th minute.
